I ended up at a 3.5 stars for this one with a 3 star first half of the book and a 4 star second half. The first half mostly just suffered from horribly pacing in my opinion. The very very beginning hooked me with questions about secrets surrounding Zarya but then once Zarya made it into the city it felt like she didn't care at all about finding out these answers and instead was just hanging out around town. This really dragged the book for me because those secrets were what I did care about at that point and I just wanted her to do any actions to try and find out the truth. I also found I did not care one whit about the romance in the first half because I could just tell it wasn't the end game romance of the series. The other thing I didn't love about this one was how easy everything felt for Zarya. She just fell in with the two guys she met in the forest and I was constantly asking why in the world would they just decide they were friends with this random girl like they did? And I had a similar reaction later in the book when Zarya met the princess.

Now, once we hit the second half I think the book picked up quite a bit plot wise. We started to actually have things revealed so I was hooked again from that side of things. Zarya and Yassen's relationship had also found a nice stride with their bantering siblings dynamic that I was really enjoying. The world felt more expanded in the second half as well.

Overall I am glad I pushed through the slow first half to finish the book and I am definitely interested in the sequel when it comes out

This was such a nice read, in spite of the little mistakes, I'm definitely looking forwards to book 2. I appreciated there was no info dump but we could learn everything with the FMC, Zarya thanks to the fact that she was imprisoned all her life.

Whilst I liked her character, some of her reactions/actions were a little bit strange. I didn't understand her lack of attachment/worry about the two people who she spent her entire life with. Yes, of course, from her point of view she was imprisoned but it was still strange she showed no concern for them.
Another thing was her lack of drive to find the truth out about why she was hidden all her life. Of course, she showed some curiosity and every now and then if something fell in her lap, she cared but she wasn't driven to work for information and understand more about her own situation.

Whilst I liked Zarya, Yassen was my absolute favourite character. (And someone else who I'm hoping will get a bit more role in book 2 but no spoilers) He was amazing, loved how distrustful he was, how their relationship developed. It was entertaining and great to read it.

The same can't be told about Vikram. I have to admit he bored me and I had no interest in his relationship with Zarya. (I'd like to say I think this was done on purpose for SPOILER reasons)

The story was fast paced and flowed great, especially the last 20% what I admired for many reasons.

Can't wait for book 2!

Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky for sending me an ebook of Heart of Night and Fire for review consideration.

I was super excited to get a copy of this book because I am loving the Artefacts of Ouranos series, and I am waiting (not so patiently for book 3 to come out in 2024).

This book is a slow-burn but when you pick up a Quartet you know what you are signing up for.

There was enough of a hook at the start to keep you reading and the second half of the novel there is a good amount of action and hints at future romance to keep going.

If you enjoy a strong FMC with secret powers they are learning to wield to potentially save everyone they love, well, this is up your alley. There are a few great twists at the end and you meet a character you have been waiting for. It is enough to make me want to read book 2.

Now I am waiting for two of Nisha’s books to come out!

4.5 stars rounded up. *ARC Review*

This book is a strong fantasy novel with just a touch of a romantic storyline. The world building was done so well that I never felt confused or like I needed to go back and re-read parts to understand what was happening. I loved this world and I loved this story and I really enjoyed how everything played out.

There are mysteries, there is found family, and there is a bunch of battles and gore. So basically this book has everything that I look for in a fantasy novel. Something this book does really well (And that I am learning that Nisha just does well in all her books) is the side characters. They are all so strong and so complex that as the reader I cared about every character (Not just the main characters). These strong cast of characters leads to the immaculate found family vibes that Nisha gives us in this book.

This was such a strong first book in a series and it ended with me on the edge of me seat excited for book 2. The only reason this is a 4.5 and not a 5 is because I felt the pacing was just slightly off. The beginning was just a little bit slow for my personal taste.

I can't wait for more in this world. I can't wait to get more of this story.

Zarya’s story of finding answers to questions that had plagued her mind for a long time had potential. At the beginning of the book I was hooked. The first chapter was action packed and I loved that.

Row (The Warden as I like to call him) mysteriously disappearing did provide Zarya with the opportunity to adventure further than she has ever gone before. On her trip she finds a town with magical creatures. The darkness was destroying everything and everyone that wasn’t inside the city walls. But somehow Zarya survived all those years and that made people suspicious.

Zarya and her companion were trying to find Row along with answers. Instead of finding him, she learns that Row had been hiding more from her than she originally thought.

I was super excited to read this book, but it felt short halfway through. I felt like it had a lot of extra information that we could have done without. Sometimes when Zarya was experiencing something internally it took an entire page to cover her emotions and I think a paragraph would have been enough.

I did think the story was kinda predictable. The climax could have been seen coming a mile away. So did the true identity of the mystery man. To put it nicely I don’t have any motivation to read book two to get answers.

For 20 years, Zarya was kept away from the world in a little cottage at the Dakhani Sea – the only people keeping her company being her guardian Row and his assistant Aarav, who really is more of an annoyance than anything else.

When opportunity arrives, she finally manages to escape – only to end up in the hands of Commander Vikram Ravana and his Lieutenant Yasen Varghese, who take her to Dharati and into a life she never could’ve imagined. But the secrets of her past won’t let her go, and when she begins to unravel the mystery of her life, she has to realize that some things are better kept in darkness.

First of all – thank you to the author, the publishers and to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my thoughts! I had a lot of fun reading this book, although I have to say reading an ebook is always a bit harder for me :D Can’t wait to get my hands on the physical copy!

Heart of Night and Fire is a dazzling story with an amazing Indian inspired theme – the world (and the food! My god the food) were beautifully described, so vividly colorful that it really felt like I was there.

Zarya as the protagonist was so fun to follow. She has this childlike wonder and excitement for life because everything is new to her, and at the same time her naivety made for interesting struggles and thoughts. Especially her outlook on love had me shaking my head a few times, but more in a gentle and understanding way – she has been locked up her whole life, so of course she deserves some slack!

I especially liked the found family in this book, which is good because the story revolves manly around them. Yasen has my heart! The romance was, in my opinion, not that predominantly – it’s really more teased than anything else. But I am excited to see where they’re going with it in the second part!

The writing is great, but what made the book really stand out is the new take on mythology and world-building – it just felt really creative and although I had some ideas about the major plot points, the details were really imaginative and gave everything a fresh spin. All in all, I enjoyed this book a lot and I can’t wait for the next part ♥

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 𝕘𝕖𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕟 𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟 ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

20 Jahre lang lebte Zarya, abgeschieden von der Welt, in einer kleinen Hütte am Dakhani-See und unter der Aufsicht des Wächters Row und seines Assistenten Aarav, aka die größte Nervensäge aller Zeiten. Als sich eine Gelegenheit zur Flucht ergibt, schlägt Zarya zu - und gerät sogleich in die Hände von Commander Vikram Ravana und seinem Leutnant Yasen Varghese. Diese bringen sie nach Dharati und in ein Leben, das sie sich niemals hätte vorstellen können. Doch die Geheimnisse ihrer Vergangenheit lassen sie nicht los und als sie beginnt, das Rätsel ihres Lebens zu entschlüsseln, muss sie erkennen, dass manche Dinge besser im Dunkeln bleiben.

Zunächst einmal möchte ich mich bei der Autorin, dem Verlag und NetGalley für das Bereitstellen eines Rezensionsexemplars bedanken, das ich im Austausch für meine Gedanken lesen durfte. Obwohl es für mich immer etwas schwieriger ist, ein E-Book zu lesen, hatte ich viel Spaß mit diesem Buch. Ich kann es kaum erwarten, eine physische Kopie in die Hände zu kriegen!

Heart of Night and Fire ist eine magische Geschichte mit einem wunderschönen, indisch angehauchten Backdrop. Die Welt (und das Essen! aaaah das Essen) werden wunderschön beschrieben und sind so lebendig und bunt (und lecker), dass es sich wirklich anfühlt, als wäre man dort (und sehr hungrig).

Zarya als Protagonistin war total spannend. Sie hat diese kindliche Begeisterung und Aufregung für das Leben, weil alles neu für sie ist. Gleichzeitig sorgt ihre Naivität für interessante Gedanken, Entscheidungen und Schwierigkeiten. Vor allem ihr Blick auf die Liebe brachte mich ein paar Mal zum Kopfschütteln, aber eher in einer sanften und verständnisvollen Art - immerhin wurde sie ihr ganzes Leben lang eingesperrt, da verdient sie schon etwas Nachsicht!

Besonders gefallen hat mir auch die “found-family” in diesem Buch, was gut ist, weil die Geschichte hauptsächlich darum geht. Besonders Yasen hat mein Herz erobert! Die Liebesgeschichte war meiner Meinung nach (noch) nicht so dominant - es wird wirklich mehr angedeutet als alles andere. Aber ich bin gespannt, wohin das alles im zweiten Teil gehen wird!

Der Schreibstil ist großartig, aber was das Buch wirklich von anderen absetzt ist die Mythologie und das Worldbuilding. Es fühlt sich einfach kreativ an, und obwohl ich einige Entwicklungen vorhersehen konnte, waren die Details so einfallsreich, dass sie allem nochmal eine frische Wendung gaben.
Alles in allem hat mir dieses Buch sehr gefallen und ich kann den nächsten Teil kaum erwarten ♥

Heart of Night and Fire was my first Nisha J. Tuli book, and I enjoyed it so much, I will be going to read Trial of the Sun Queen as soon as possible.

Overall a great story and very intrigued for book 2.

4 stars

Dnf for me. I really, really tried to get into it. I think the overall storyline and idea was good, different and interesting but it wasn’t enough to keep me captivated. I just kept waiting for something to happened to cause that moment where you just have to keep reading to find out what’s next. Overall, it was a very interesting story, I just wish it would have been enough to make me want to keep reading. What i did really enjoy were the descriptive outfits and scenery.

Critical Rating - ⭐⭐⭐.💫
Entertainment Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall: 3.75 ⭐
Spice: 🌶️

Thank you Netgalley and Second Sky for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First off, I will say that Tuli’s worldbuilding is absolutely fantastic right out of the gate. Her way of writing this new world is so descriptive and for someone who has never been to South Asia, made me feel like I was right in the middle of it. We’re introduced to so much new vernacular though that I found myself highlighting words and googling them later on. Similar to what I said when I reviewed Black Water Sister, I wish there were footnotes or even a glossary but that’s just a me thing.

While there is a lot of attention spent on worldbuilding and aesthetics, everything else including character development, relationships, and plot had the potential to be much more. It’s unclear as to how many books this will be but this definitely reads like the first book of a series with a huge plotline opening up at the end, followed by a maddening cliffhanger that makes you wish book 2 was readily available.

This story is marketed as a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance but I suspect we won’t be getting more of that until book 2 because it felt more like instant attraction happening with our initial coupling. We see a lot more of our FMC Zarya finding her place within her new found family and establishing new and resolving old friendships. I’m interested to see how her character will develop even further because, in this first book, she has the romanticism of Lara Jean and the inquisitive compassionate nature of Feyre Archeron, which gives her a rose-tinted view of the world she has been hidden away from.

Overall, a very strong first book and I’m excited to see what happens next.

You know that age old adage “Never judge a book by its cover”? Well, judge away on this one. This book will be one you want for your trophy shelf, and not just because it’s stunning (obvs, look at it) but because this is about to be your newest addiction.

𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

Zarya has been held captive by the closest thing she has to a father for 20 years. Never allowed to stray too far from their little swamp-side cottage. When her “father” goes missing she uses this opportunity to escape and experience what the world has to offer, stumbling upon her long locked away magic.

This book is STUFFED full of monsters, demons, vampires, magic, sword fighting, enemies to lovers, sorcerers and other worldly beings. Should you pick up this book (and I highly recommend you do, especially if you love SJM, JLA and Carissa Broadbent as much as I do), be prepared to call into work sick until you finish it.

K byeeee ✌🏼🫶🏼

Heart of Night and Fire
The Nightfire Quartet #1
Fantasy
Nisha J. Tuli
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I really enjoyed reading this book. Although this is the first time I've read anything by this author, it certainly wont be the last.

The world building was great. It was packed with details, some parts were told straight away and some information was slowly revealed through interactions with different characters.

The pacing was a little slow to begin with while the characters were introduced but it soon picked up. I loved the action and all of the fighting scenes.

The characters were well developed. I loved the relationship Zarya had with Yasen and Vikram. I knew it would be too easy for Zarya to end up with a certain character but I didn't predict exactly what would happen and why.

Row annoyed me from the start with how controlling he was and when he disappeared, I wanted answers. I found his reappearance a little underwhelming. I was expecting more tension and more of a reaction from the other characters when secrets were revealed.

I wish Rabin was included more. I loved the tension between him and Zarya so it was a shame that they only got the meet in person near the end. I don't quite understand Rabin's hatred towards Zarya yet, though

I would've liked a glossary just so I could go back to it when I forgot certain things or to help me imagine things more clearly (clothing, weapons etc).

I definitely recommend reading this book!

*Thank you to @Netgalley and the publishers for providing this ARC. This is my own opinion and an honest review, which I am leaving voluntarily*

Heart of Night and Fire - The Nightfire Quartet # 1
Nisha Tuli

⭐5⭐

Tropes: found family, hidden magic, slow burn romance

Heart of Night and Fire is an epic fantasy opening to The Nightfire Quartet. We follow Zarya as she leaves her beautiful cottage home in the forest surrounded by a darkened swamp. A prisoner in a gilded magical cage kept in seclusion for her own safety, Zarya is lonely and friendless. Her only company being the man who raised her with magical abilities, his apprentice, and her romance novels. When the magical cage finally opens after her caretaker disappears, Zarya leaves to find out what she’s been missing for nearly 21 years of her life.

Zarya enters the magical and incredible city of Dharati, but everything is not as good as it seems. Darkness has come for the city and the world, demons and beasts work to infiltrate the city and destroy its magical and powerful queen. Warriors work to protect the city, the people, and their queen using the fighting skills and elemental magical abilities. Zarya has spent too much time in hiding and now she is ready to join the fight and help in the effort to defend the innocent. This book has exciting twists and turns! It kept me on my toes!

This story was inspired by Indian mythology, which was all very new to me. I enjoy reading books that introduce me to things that I do not know a lot about. As this was new information for me, I did struggle to understand some of what was going on at first. I was able to look further into the Indian mythology that inspired this book and thoroughly enjoyed this new information. I’m excited to learn more about it now!

I loved this book and I’m so excited to read the next books in the series!

Nisha, why do you leave me twisting at the end of your books?! I can’t wait to see where things go from here. The slow burn romance will be the death of me!


Below are my favorite quotes from the book!

“It wasn’t an unpleasant prison, but a firefly trapped in even the most ornate jar would still die without air.”

“Besides, it was long past time to write her own story and stop living inside the page of a borrowed reality.”

“Darkness was destroyed by embracing the light, even when that seemed impossible.”

“Sometimes our destiny is not what we would have chosen. We can either seek to change it or learn to live with it.”

“Suvanna had called it the darkness and Koura had refused to name it. But whatever it was, it had just arrived to claim them all.”

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for an advance copy of Heart of NIght and Fire in exchange of an honest review.
I am usually not interested in fantasy books but this one kept me enthralled from page 1 to the very end. Nisha J Tuli's 'Heart of Night and Fire' is an enchanting and immersive romance-fantasy adventure that effortlessly weaves together elements of the South Asian culture. This vibrant backdrop provides a beautiful and unique setting for the captivating story that unfolds. Packed with family secrets, thrilling training and trials, and encounters with creatures of darkness, including vampires, the plot keeps you gripped from start to finish. The author's vivid descriptions bring the world to life and evoke a sense of wonder.

However, what truly sets this book apart are two standout elements. Firstly, the found family vibes that permeate throughout the story are heartwarming and add an additional layer of depth to the narrative. The bonds and connections between the characters create a sense of unity and support that tugs at the heartstrings. The author celebrates the power of chosen family, reminding us that it's not just blood ties that matter.

Secondly, the vivid food descriptions are an absolute delight. Tuli's ability to bring food to life on the page is remarkable, with mouthwatering depictions that transport you to the heart of the story. It's a sensory feast that adds another layer of richness to the reading experience.

In addition to these highlights, the romance in 'Heart of Night and Fire' is a delightful element. The protagonist's naive and starry-eyed approach to love, influenced by her penchant for romance novels, brings a sense of whimsy and optimism to the story. It's a refreshing take on romance that adds a touch of charm.

With all the elements in place, 'Heart of Night and Fire' promises a thrilling journey and sets the stage for what is sure to be an exciting sequel. I can't wait to see how the story unfolds, especially if it includes the enemies-to-lovers trope that holds so much promise. For fans of fantasy and those seeking an immersive and captivating escape, 'Heart of Night and Fire' is an absolute must-read."

I found this book really hard to get into unfortunately and just couldn’t finish it. It’s definitely not a fault of the author or book just the very descriptive writing style isn’t the kind of fantasy I go for unfortunately.

Heart of Night and Fire 4.5/5 ⭐

This book felt like a warm hug, save for the gruesome demons and unrelenting blight plaguing the land.

The main character, Zarya, is everything you want in a FMC. She's fierce, but there's a gentle kindness that ebbs just beneath the surface. I was invested in her journey from the very start. Her wants were so human: love, family, connectedness. It was impossible not to identify with her. Zarya's thought process was dynamic and her growth throughout the story was perfectly paced.

Now, knowing little about Indian and South Asian cultures (unless you count a brief introduction in a college course), I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. However, the world within this book is staggeringly beautiful. I have never fallen in love with a book's details as I have with this story. The food. The scenery. The aromas. I could curl up in the imagery of this book. I felt a sense of comfort and overwhelming peace while reading... unless they were battling demons, of course.

As far as the romance goes, I was left wanting a bit more. Yet, that want will firmly propel me towards the next book to see how everything plays out... Maybe that's the whole point of a slow-burn? I guess I'm just impatient. 🙃

Overall, this was a highly enjoyable and refreshing read. This book releases on September 15th (in three days)!!! Go buy it!

Thank you to Nisha J. Tulli and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to review this ARC. I had the best time reading Heart of Night and Fire! ♥️🔥

✨Book Review✨

Heart Of Night And Fire by Nisha J Tuli

I’ve been a slump lately and yet when I pick up this book, it is still impossible to put down.
In a world full of magic Zarya has little, but she is reminded everyday that no one can know by her only companions. Row may not be Zarya’s father but he’s the closest thing to one, even if he’s the only thing between her and freedom.

"Dharati wasn't just a city -it was cacophony: layer upon layer of color, people, carts, and animals roving through the crowded streets....This was it. The life she'd been chasing. The chance to experience something more."
This isn’t just a description in the book it is a description for the book. Nisha’s world building is so strong that you spend every moment reading right there beside Zarya.

I had to google many things throughout this read, I will admit that can be somewhat distracting, however it allowed me to learn a little about Indian culture in a way that made me want to keep learning.

The slow burn kept me on my toes the entire time, desperately waiting for more but not wanting to rush things, but more than the romantic aspects of this story is the developing friendships. Watching two strangers who didn’t really like each other turn into friends is just such a pleasant experience.

. I loved it.

This is the first time that I’m reading a book by this author and I am happy to say that this book was fast-paced and enjoyable. I liked that it is infused by Indian and South Asian lore and it definitely shows (even in the details of the clothes and the food). It is action-packed and fast-paced but I must admit, I had gotten a bit overwhelmed in the first half of the book because there where so many things being described, the many terminologies, as well as the characters being introduced. That being said, the author does a good job of portraying a dreamlike fantasy world full of all sorts of amazing creatures. The character interactions and friendship developments where fun to watch (especially Yasen’s) but the romantic relationships where stilted and left vague for this first installation. The family secrets and Zarya’s past took longer to unfold which did frustrate me a bit. Zarya’s character is not admittedly immediately likable for me but there where a lot of instances where I would have thought she’d pick a more trope-y choice of action, only for her to take a more sensible choice and that wins her points from me.

I. AM. OBSESSED.
If you've read this book, go look at the fanart on Nisha J. Tuli's website... It's just so beautiful. If you haven't, there are no spoilers but just go look at those glorious colours.
I love the whole crew in this book and do not have one bad thing to say about it.
It's adventurous, it's intriguing and it's so beautifully written I want to devour all of Tuli's writing.
I will be anxiously waiting for the next book.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the ARC for my honest review.*

This is the first book I've read by Nisha and I am in awe of her world building, imagination and powers of description. A story of magic, adventure, love and betrayal it was so beautifully written the words sang from the pages. I can't wait to read the next thrilling instalment.

This is my third Nisha Tuli book and I have been pleasantly surprised by all her books so far! While this book wasn’t perfect, it was a solid introduction to this new series and has piqued my interest for what is to come!

The story includes a lot of South Asian mythology and is really beautifully told. Tuli does a great job with world building and settings, and progresses the plot at a good pace. While there is a lot of mystery to the story, due to Zarya not knowing what is going on and us discovering it with her, I felt like we were given snippets of information in a well placed manner that allowed the reader to gather information and start filling in the blanks, without it being too info dumpy. I really loved some of the twists we got at the end with certain characters and plot points. While I had a feeling it was the case, it was still fun to see how they come about!

I was intrigued by the FMC, Zarya. She presents as a tough young woman who can take care of herself, while also being just that. A young woman with sometimes immature thoughts or behaviors. However, I found myself excusing a lot of them or at least being understanding of it as they were something that a naive girl who was raised basically in isolation would think or do. I’m excited to see where her character goes and how she’ll grow in her magic but also her personality and hope she’s a little more mature in the future.

I really enjoyed the side characters we were introduced to in the book, especially Yasen’s character! He was such a curmudgeon at first and we slowly see him peel back the layers until he and Zarya form this touching friendship. I’d happily be his second best friend too. There was some romance in here, and what we got made it clear this series will be more NA/Adult, but it started out with less spice in this one and maybe? a love triangle. With the story not being as romance forward, I was intrigued by the MMCs, but I’m not in love with them right now. Again, I am very curious to see where we go in the future books!

This book definitely has book 1 of a series vibes, where we are getting a lot of character and world development and spend a lot of time focusing on the introduction to this new setting. The plot is enough to hook you, but I think the next books will be a bit more exciting (think ACOTAR vs. ACOMAF). I’m really interested in what we will learn in the next books and to see where everything is going after how it ended!

Lastly, my chai count was 7 by the time I finished. This is the number of times that I had to stop what I was doing and make myself chai because of how often it was mentioned in this book.